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Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said he plans to take two months off from work after the birth of his first child.

Mark Zuckerberg, Chairman and CEO of Facebook and his wife, Priscilla Chan, arrive for a State Dinner hosted by US President Barack Obama for Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House in Washington, DC, September 25, 2015. AFP PHOTO / MOLLY RILEYMOLLY RILEY/AFP/Getty ImagesMolly Riley / AFP - Getty Images

“This is a very personal decision, and I’ve decided to take 2 months of paternity leave once our daughter arrives,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

The announcement comes as Google, Netflix, Microsoft and other high-tech companies have expanded their parental leave policies as a way to recruit and keep talented employees.

“Studies show that when working parents take time to be with their newborns, outcomes are better for the children and families,” he said. “At Facebook we offer our US employees up to 4 months of paid maternity or paternity leave which they can take throughout the year.”

Zuckerberg's announcement prompted numerous comments of support, with many hoping that his actions will help pave the way for other employers. Facebook's chief operating officer, Sheryl Sandberg, also offered her congratulations.

“Enjoy the precious early months with your daughter — I can’t wait to meet her,” she wrote.